Is your home ready for the chill?
As we officially head into the fall and winter season, it’s essential to take the time to prepare your home for the cooler weather to come. Winterizing your air conditioning unit and your plumbing helps protect against winter elements and moisture damage. After all, you don’t want to find yourself in a sticky situation when the temperature drops!
Although winter in the South is usually mild and short-lived, we do have days when the thermostat drops and below freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on your AC. By investing the time now, you can prevent minor and major issues while ensuring that your system runs well for the long term.
Get a head start by following these tips:
- Clean the condenser unit: First, turn the power off before getting started. Then, vacuum or remove any debris from the exterior fins with a soft brush attachment. Unscrew the top and remove any visible leaves or debris, being careful not to bend the fan or disconnect any wires. Use a garden house to gently remove any remaining debris before reattaching the cover and restoring the power.
- Clear the area: Next, remove any long grass or debris from the outdoor space and trim any trees or bushes that may be in the way.
- Cover up: If you don’t plan to run the unit for a while, consider adding an AC cover to prevent any animals from nesting inside it. Just make sure to allow for ventilation and enough space not to damage the unit.
- Change your air filter: This is key to making sure your unit runs well and helps improve the air quality inside, as well.
- Check your HVAC: Turn on your heat and make sure it works properly before that first cold day.
Next, let’s tackle your pipes. Burst pipes are no joke and often require a very pricey repair:
- Insulate the pipes: Pipes in exposed areas like crawl spaces, garages and attics are most susceptible to freezing temperatures. Use a heat cable along the lines and cover with pipe insulation. Insulation alone isn’t enough to prevent long-term cold temperatures from having an impact.
- Shut off outdoor faucets: Allow excess water to run out and then turn these off at the shut-off valve. If you don’t allow these to drain, the pipe can still freeze and crack.
- Run water: Expecting a cold night? Allow a trickle of water to run through it overnight to prevent frozen pipes from cracking. While you may see a slight increase in your bill, it’s much easier to swallow than footing the cost for a pipe replacement.
- Inspect the exterior of your home: Do a quick walk around the home. Do you see any visible cracks? Cold air could seep through and cause damage so consider adding caulking to fill the gaps.
Prepping your home for the cold weather doesn’t require a lot of time or strenuous work. If you follow these basic steps, you will keep your air blowing and water flowing!
Not ready to tackle this alone? We are here to help! Give us a call at 843-851-7676.
